JP2005064966A - Electronic conference apparatus, electronic conference system, electronic conference method, electronic conference program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm, set and change elements of an electronic conference by using a navigation document. In particular, a participant uses a pen, a navigation document, etc. without using an extra display space on the display. An electronic conference apparatus, an electronic conference method, an electronic conference program, and a recording medium are provided.
An electronic conference control device is provided that receives information on the identifier of a navigation document displaying a plurality of electronic conference elements to which identifiers are assigned, and operates in accordance with the information. Each electronic conference element has an individual identifier. Assigned. Moreover, the printing apparatus which prints a navigation document can be provided.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention enables confirmation, setting, and change of elements of the electronic conference by using a navigation document. In particular, a participant can use a pen, a navigation document, etc. without using an extra display space on the display. The present invention relates to an electronic conference apparatus, an electronic conference method, an electronic conference program, and a recording medium that can be used to receive navigation of an electronic conference.

  In recent years, many computer users who conduct electronic conferencing (remote conferencing) use electronic conferencing application programs (such as “electronic conferencing” in this specification) such as “Net / Conference” of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and “SAME TIME” of Lotus Corporation in the United States. Application). These electronic conference applications include communication functions such as a video conference function, an audio conference function, and a text conference function. The electronic conference application includes work tools such as a whiteboard function, a shared browser function, or a shared editor function.

  In electronic conferences using these electronic conference applications, mouse clicks and menu items are used for mutual communication between graphical user interfaces (GUIs).

  However, as more functions are added to such a system or as more participants join an electronic conference, GUI control becomes more difficult accordingly. Specifically, the space on the display of each tool provided in the GUI becomes narrow, or the switching operation between windows when there are many participants becomes complicated. In the remote collaboration tool (or system), the user is forced to accept such inconvenience.

  It is an object of the present invention to allow a participant of an electronic conference to receive navigation without using a mouse or menu, or by using the mouse or menu together, and confirm the participant, document item, tool item, etc. in the electronic conference. To provide an electronic conference apparatus, an electronic conference system, an electronic conference method, an electronic conference program, and a recording medium that can execute settings / changes from a written document and can easily switch display screens. .

  [1] The present invention is provided with an electronic conference control device that receives information on an identifier of a navigation document displaying a plurality of electronic conference elements to which identifiers are assigned from an input device and operates in accordance with the information. The gist is "characteristic".

  [2] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference apparatus according to [1], wherein an individual identifier is assigned to each electronic conference element”.

  [3] The present invention is characterized in that “the electronic conference element includes at least one of a participant, an information channel, a document, multimedia, a property, or an item of an electronic conference application command [1. ] Or the electronic conference apparatus according to [2].

  [4] The present invention is characterized in that “the electronic conference element includes at least one of a participant, an information channel, a document, multimedia, a property, or an item of an electronic conference application command [1. To the electronic conference apparatus according to any one of [3].

  [5] The electronic device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the input device is a key input device and the individual identifier is a hot key or a combination of keys. The gist is "conference equipment".

  [6] According to the present invention, “the input device is a bar code reader or a glyph reader, and the individual identifier is a bar code or a glyph. The gist of the electronic conferencing apparatus described in any of the above.

  [7] According to the present invention, “the input device is an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification: IC tag) information input device, and the individual identifier is an RFID chip. [1] to [4] The gist of the electronic conference device according to any one of the above.

  [8] The electronic conference apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the input device is an image image input device and the individual identifier is an image image. Is the gist.

  [9] The present invention provides: [The electronic conference control apparatus according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the electronic conference control device has a function of changing a conference element displayed on a graphical user interface. The gist is "conference equipment".

  [10] The present invention provides the information processing apparatus according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein “the information of the identifier is command information, and the electronic conference control apparatus has a function of executing the command. The gist of the “electronic conference device” is described.

  [11] According to the present invention, “the electronic conference element described in the navigation document has a space added by handwriting, or has a space added by automatically updating the file of the navigation document. The gist of the electronic conference apparatus according to any one of [1] to [10], which is a feature.

  [12] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference apparatus according to any one of [1] to [11], wherein the navigation document is created before, during or after the meeting”.

  [13] The gist of the present invention is “an electronic conference system in which a plurality of electronic conference apparatuses according to any one of [1] to [12] are connected to a network”.

[14] The present invention provides an identifier information acquisition step of receiving, from an input device, information on the identifier of a navigation document displaying a plurality of electronic conference elements assigned identifiers;
An electronic conference control step for performing a predetermined operation in accordance with the identifier acquired in the identifier information acquisition step;
"The electronic conference method characterized by including".

  [15] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference method according to [14], including an identifier assigning step of assigning an individual identifier for each electronic conference element”.

  [16] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference method according to [14] or [15], including a printing step of printing the file of the navigation document”.

  [17] The present invention provides: [14] to [16], wherein the electronic conference element includes at least one item of a participant, an information channel, a document, multimedia, a property, or an application command item. The electronic conference method described in any of the above] is summarized.

  [18] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference method according to any one of [14] to [17], wherein the individual identifier is a hot key or a combination of keys”.

  [19] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference method according to any one of [14] to [17], wherein the individual identifier is a bar code or a glyph”.

  [20] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference method according to any one of [14] to [17], wherein the individual identifier is an RFID chip”.

  [21] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference method according to any one of [14] to [17], wherein the individual identifier is an image”.

  [22] The electronic device according to any one of [14] to [21], wherein the electronic conference control step includes a function of changing a conference element displayed on the graphical user interface. The gist is "meeting method".

  [23] The present invention provides: [14] to [22], wherein the identifier information is command information, and the electronic conference control step has a function of executing the command. The gist of the described electronic conference method.

  [24] According to the present invention, “the electronic conference element described in the navigation document has a space added by handwriting, or has a space added by automatically updating the file of the navigation document. The gist is the electronic conference method according to any one of [14] to [23].

  [25] The gist of the present invention is “the electronic conference method according to any one of [14] to [24], wherein the navigation document file is created before, during or after the electronic conference”.

  [26] The gist of the present invention is “an electronic conference program that causes a computer to function as each means according to any one of [14] to [25]”.

  [27] The gist is a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to be executed as each means according to any of [14] to [25].

  It is possible in the prior art to navigate or control electronic conferences using existing input devices (keyboard, mouse or touch screen). In the present invention, the advantage of the navigation document, which is paper, is effectively used as means for navigating or controlling the electronic conference.

  First, the resolution of images that can be printed on paper is about 600 dpi, even A4 size and letter size navigation documents, much more than current displays, participants, document items, tool items, etc. Can be displayed.

  Second, navigation documents, which are paper, are common, and meeting records can be easily transported before, during or after the meeting. There is an advantage that the number of operations can be reduced not only for participants who use a desktop computer but also for participants who access a conference using a mobile phone or PDA.

  Third, the paper can be readjusted, such as folded, cut, copied, stacked, etc. Therefore, it is more convenient for the participant that the user customizes the user interface (navigation document) as paper than the user customizes the user interface in a computer such as a GUI.

  Fourthly, by using the navigation document, it is possible to write a memo of the meeting in the margin, which is highly convenient for the participants. Paper (navigation document) is an alternative until a computer display is projected onto a wall or the like and a gesture or voice is used as its user interface.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic conference system of the present invention comprising an electronic conference device of the present invention and an electronic conference server. In FIG. 1, an electronic conference apparatus 1A includes an electronic conference control apparatus 101, a communication apparatus 102, an input apparatus 103, a printer (printing apparatus) 104, a display 105, and a magnetic disk device 106. In FIG. 1, the communication device 102 of the electronic conference device 1A is connected to a server 1B and other electronic conference devices 1C and 1D via a network (such as the Internet) 500.

  In the present invention, the electronic conference control apparatus 101 can create a navigation document file prior to the electronic conference (or during the conference) (see navigation documents 2A and 2B in FIGS. 2 and 3 to be described later). ). A plurality of electronic conference elements to which identifiers are assigned are displayed on the navigation document.

  The electronic conference control apparatus 101 includes a CPU 1011, a ROM 1012, and a RAM 1013. Each module of the electronic conference application is loaded into the RAM 1013 and executed by the CPU 1011. The electronic conference application includes, for example, a module that performs an operation according to the identifier information described above. The electronic conference application includes an identifier assignment program module, and the identifier assignment program module constitutes an identifier assignment means of the present invention in cooperation with the CPU 1011. The identifier assignment program module can assign an individual identifier for each electronic conference element. The RAM 1013 is loaded with various programs such as a communication driver in addition to a barcode interpretation module, a hot key module, and a printer driver module, which will be described later.

  The electronic conference control apparatus 101 can receive the identifier information of the electronic conference element on the navigation document (see reference numeral 2A in FIG. 2 and reference numeral 2B in FIG. 3) input by the participant and perform an operation according to the information. For example, the electronic conference control apparatus 101 can have a function of changing conference elements displayed on the GUI of the display 105. The GUI, together with the navigation document, can constitute a user interface. The navigation document can be created before, during or after the meeting.

  In this case, the participant can print out the navigation document by the printer 104. When the information (file) of the navigation document is upgraded, the necessary pages of the navigation document can be printed again or transmitted to other participants (electronic conference apparatuses 1C and 1D).

  The most difficult process for teleconferencing applications that collaborate remotely is the connection to the conference. According to this embodiment, the participant can easily start a predetermined conference. When it is desired to add a new participant or a new item (document, command, etc.), the electronic conference control apparatus 101 adds a label corresponding to the new item to the navigation document file, writes it, and prints the corresponding page. be able to. Thus, when the added participant or item is selected, the hot key (or key combination) is passed to the electronic conference control device (or the command step of the electronic conference application), and the electronic conference control device 101 An operation corresponding to a hot key (or a combination of keys) can be performed.

  Hereinafter, the navigation document will be described in detail. The electronic conference elements described in the navigation document include at least each participant, various document items (documents, properties, etc.), and tool items (items such as information channel selection, multimedia selection, electronic conference application commands). Contains one. Specifically, the electronic conference element is a photograph of each participant, a slide for presentation, an image, a spreadsheet, a report, etc., a shared whiteboard, chat text, a shared editor, and the like. Command information is also included in the tool item identifier information.

  For example, a participant can add a participant or a document or command used in the electronic conference to the navigation document. For example, an electronic conference element described in a navigation document can be manually added to the navigation document by a participant. For example, in the electronic conference apparatus 1A, the participant writes the file name of the document used in the electronic conference on the navigation document by hand and associates the file name with the hot key. In the electronic conference device 1A, it is possible to input a hot key for identifier information. In addition, since the electronic conference element described in the navigation document is automatically added to the file of the navigation document, the participant can print and use it. Also, when a new participant is added, or when a participant adds a document to the electronic conference, the electronic conference line application can update the description in the navigation document. In the updated navigation document, new participants and the above documents are added as electronic conference elements.

  The input device 103 can be composed of a keyboard, a mouse, and a data scanner. The data scanner is, for example, a barcode scanner, an RFID (IC tag) scanner, a glyph scanner, an image scanner, or the like. As will be described later, the participant can use the input device 103 to input information on the identifier of the navigation document displaying a plurality of electronic conference elements to which the identifier is assigned.

  The display 105 is a monitor such as a liquid crystal or a CRT. A part of the electronic conference element is displayed on the GUI of the display 105. The communication device 108 can communicate with the electronic conference device 1 </ b> A and other participant's terminal devices (computers) via the network 500.

  When using scanned identifiers such as barcodes, individual identifiers are assigned to each participant, document, and log (eg, chat text, video recording, etc.). Participants can save the navigation document (each page or a card shown in FIG. 6 described later) as a paper file after joining the conference. When a participant wants to know the contents of a meeting that has already ended, the document can be retrieved from the log by scanning the barcode of the document. Further, when a participant wants to contact another participant, the contact information (email address, telephone number, etc.) regarding the other participant can be called by scanning the barcode of the other participant.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation document 2A includes a plurality of participants (in FIG. 2, p1, p2, p3), various document items (d1, d2, d3), and tool items (t1, t2, t3). t4, t5, t6, t7) are described. Each of these participants, each document item, and each tool item is labeled with a unique hot key (eg, a function key) or key combination (eg, two or more key sets that are simultaneously pressed). . FIG. 2 shows a combination of an ALT key and a function key, and a combination of a Ctrl key and a function key. In addition, valid commands (save, print, open, file transfer, etc.) are also printed on each page of the navigation document 2A.

  Each page of the navigation document 2A can be provided with a blank space, to which new participants who participated during the electronic conference and new items generated during the electronic conference can be assigned. In addition, on each page of the navigation document 2A, the meeting organizer, the meeting place, the meeting date and time, the meeting theme, and the like can be printed together with other related items as necessary. Participants can grasp all participants, document items, tool items, etc. immediately by simply looking at the printed navigation document page.

  FIG. 3 shows a navigation document 2B using a bar code instead of the key combination shown in FIG. The electronic conference apparatus 1A requires a barcode reader (which can be connected to a USB port or a serial port). Various standards have been proposed for bar codes according to the number of digits and size. Thus, a large number of conferences can be identified by the electronic conference application, and a large number of conference elements can be identified for each conference. By using the navigation document 2B, the participant can display the desired participant, document item, tool item, etc. on the display 105 only by scanning a barcode or the like with a scanner or the like.

  As the scanner, a handheld type or pen type reader attached to the computer can be used. This eliminates the need for a heavy keyboard. In particular, when the pen-type barcode reader RDR as shown in FIG. 3 has a writing function, the participant can write a note on a printed page or scan (read) a barcode. This can be done with one device (one pen).

  A participant inputs a hot key or a combination of keys as shown in FIG. 2, or reads a bar code using a reader as shown in FIG. One of the can be specified. By specifying the participant and the item, the participant can maximize and display the participant and the item on the display 105 of the electronic conference apparatus 1A as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when two displays 105A and 105B are connected to the electronic conference apparatus 1A, the participants and items (documents) are displayed on the second display 105B by specifying the participants and items described above. Etc.) can be maximized and displayed. Participants and items can be enlarged and displayed at predetermined locations in the display 105, 105A, and 105B. Display control of the display (105 or 105A, 105B) can be controlled by the electronic conference application sending a display control command. When a participant types a hotkey associated with a command, the command is passed to the teleconferencing application, which can execute the command.

  As shown in FIG. 6, participants and items can be printed on individual cards (or perforated cards) 6 instead of printing a page of the navigation document. As a result, participants in the conference can arrange the cards themselves on the desk 5 by arranging appropriate cards, such as arranging the cards 6 side by side, stacking them, or collecting only the cards that have something in common. Can be visualized.

  For example, the card 6 describing the document provided in the electronic conference is placed near the card 6 of the participant who created the card, or the card 6 describing the job provided in the electronic conference is spontaneously issued. Or move close to the card 6 of the participant who intends to perform. Further, the cards 6 of the participants who perform the collaborative work can be arranged close to each other or collectively.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing processing when the identifier of the conference element is a barcode and the input device 103 is a barcode scanner (reader). In this case, a printer driver module and a barcode interpretation module (program) are incorporated in the electronic conference application (specifically, the module is read into the RAM 1013).

  The printer driver module needs to communicate with the client program to identify all elements of the conference (participants, document items, tool items, etc.). The printer driver module selects an image (screen shot, camera shot, symbol figure, etc.) representing the designated element. This can be sent to a printer designated by the user (specifically, the printer 104) as icon or thumbnail information (if necessary, as print ready information). Note that the printer driver module can also print blank spaces and bar codes assigned to new elements.

  The bar code interpretation module of the electronic conference application needs to receive an event from the bar code reader by polling or the like. When the barcode reader (see symbol RDR in FIG. 3) of the electronic conference apparatus 1A scans the barcode on the navigation document (see symbol 2B in FIG. 3), the barcode received by the barcode interpretation module is displayed as a number. Convert. The client program can take an appropriate action based on the type of the barcode (that is, based on the type of the electronic conference element to which the barcode is attached).

  In this communication, the client program can execute a command for a predetermined operation or change the display on the display (105, 105A, 105B). In order for the client program to operate the tool, it takes the form of an API (Application Program Interface) of the application by the client program.

  FIG. 8 shows processing when the identifier of the electronic conference element is a key input instruction and the input device 103 is a keyboard. In this case, the client program can receive a key code from the keyboard and perform an appropriate action.

9, 10 and 11 show processing of the electronic conference apparatus. In FIG. 9, the electronic conference organizer opens a server application (S101), and sets and adds participants and documents (S102). The electronic conference organizer sends a notification to the electronic conference device 1A (S103).
The participant of the electronic conference prints a navigation document (attached to the notification or linked to the notification) (S104). The participant opens an application (client application) (S105) and participates in the electronic conference. In this case, the conference barcode (see FIG. 3) can be scanned by the barcode reader RDR to participate in the electronic conference (S106, S200).

  The participant can open the server application for electronic conference without receiving a notification from the electronic conference organizer (S107) and participate in the electronic conference (S108). The server application can be substantially the same program as the electronic conference application described above. Upon participation in the electronic conference, the participant can add a document to the electronic conference (S1081), or the participant can print a navigation document (S1082).

  As shown in FIG. 10, the participant can input a key or scan a barcode or the like during an electronic conference (S109). The electronic conference application can display a document, a tool, or a person of interest (such as a speaker) (S110). Further, the electronic conference application presents a command (save, print, attachment, etc.) on the display (S111), and the participant can execute the command using the input device (keyboard, mouse) (S112).

  The participant can attach or create a document (S113), and the electronic conference application can assign a document number to the document and notify each participant (S114). Each participant can also label the number on each printed page by handwriting or the like (S115). When a new participant joins the conference (S116), the application can assign a number to the new participant and notify other participants (S117). Then, the new participant prints the meeting navigation document, and the other participants can label the number on each page (S118).

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the meeting ends (S119), the application assigns a number to a log file (moving image, text, whiteboard, etc.) (S120). The participant prints the final version (S121). The participant scans the barcode or inputs the URL (S122). The application displays the document or the log, or the application contacts the participant (S123).

It is a block diagram which shows the electronic conference apparatus of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a navigation document in which a plurality of participants, various document items, and various tool items are labeled with unique hot keys or key combinations, respectively. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a navigation document using a barcode instead of the key combination shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows a mode that the participant and item were maximized and displayed on the display connected to the computer. When two displays are connected to a computer, it is a figure which shows a mode that a participant etc. are displayed on a 2nd display. It is a figure which shows the individual card | curd which printed the participant and the item. It is a figure which shows the process in the case of participating in a meeting by barcode input using a navigation document. It is a figure which shows the case where it joins a meeting by barcode input using a navigation document. It is the 1st partial view of the flowchart which shows the process of the electronic conference apparatus of this invention. It is a 2nd partial figure of the flowchart which shows the process of the electronic conference apparatus of this invention. It is a 3rd partial figure of the flowchart which shows the process of the electronic conference apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1C, 1D Electronic conference device 1B Electronic conference server 2A, 2B Navigation document 5 Desk 6 Card 101 Electronic conference control device 102 Communication device 103 Input device 104 Printer 105, 105A, 105B Display 106 Magnetic disk device

Claims (27)

  An electronic conference apparatus, comprising: an electronic conference control device that receives information on the identifier of a navigation document displaying a plurality of electronic conference elements to which identifiers are assigned from an input device and operates in accordance with the information.   The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an individual identifier is assigned to each electronic conference element.   The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of outputting the navigation document file to a printing apparatus.   4. The electronic conferencing element includes at least one of a participant, an information channel, a document, multimedia, a property, or an item of an electronic conferencing application command. Electronic conferencing equipment.   5. The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a key input device, and the individual identifier is a hot key or a combination of keys.   5. The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a bar code reader or a glyph reader, and the individual identifier is a bar code or a glyph.   5. The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device is an RFID information input device, and the individual identifier is an RFID chip.   5. The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device is an image image input device, and the individual identifier is an image image.   9. The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic conference control apparatus has a function of changing a conference element displayed on a graphical user interface.   10. The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifier information is command information, and the electronic conference control apparatus has a function of executing the command.   11. The electronic conference element described in the navigation document has a space added by handwriting, or has a space added by automatically updating a file of the navigation document. The electronic conference apparatus according to any one of the above.   The electronic conference apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the navigation document is created before, during or after a meeting.   13. An electronic conference system comprising a plurality of electronic conference apparatuses according to claim 1 connected to a network. An identifier information acquisition step of receiving information of the identifier of the navigation document displaying a plurality of electronic conference elements to which the identifier is assigned from an input device;
An electronic conference control step for performing a predetermined operation in accordance with the identifier acquired in the identifier information acquisition step;
An electronic conferencing method comprising:   15. The electronic conference method according to claim 14, further comprising an identifier assigning step of assigning an individual identifier for each electronic conference element.   16. The electronic conference method according to claim 14, further comprising a printing step of printing the navigation document file.   17. The electronic conference method according to claim 14, wherein the electronic conference element includes at least one of an item of a participant, an information channel, a document, multimedia, a property, or an application command. .   18. The electronic conference method according to claim 14, wherein the individual identifier is a hot key or a combination of keys.   The electronic conference method according to claim 14, wherein the individual identifier is a bar code or a glyph.   The electronic conference method according to claim 14, wherein the individual identifier is an RFID chip.   The electronic conference method according to claim 14, wherein the individual identifier is an image.   The electronic conference method according to any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein the electronic conference control step includes a function of changing a conference element displayed on the graphical user interface.   The electronic conference method according to any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein the identifier information is command information, and the electronic conference control step has a function of executing the command.   The electronic conference element described in the navigation document has a space added by handwriting, or has a space added by automatically updating a file of the navigation document. The electronic conference method according to any one of the above.   25. The electronic conference method according to claim 13, wherein the navigation document file is created before, during or after the electronic conference.   An electronic conference program for causing a computer to function as each means according to any one of claims 13 to 25. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to be executed as each means according to any one of claims 13 to 25 is recorded.